[guest1632]

Hi Blair,

Was wondering if you have considered making a good! headphone amplifier. As a tube candidate, let me suggest a 12B4. it makes a killer pre, and a 1.5W amplifier. You can find out all about it on DIYAudio, and a circuit from DIYparadise.com in his "Etude" preamplifier. Unfortunately, the power supply is everything for this little tube to really shine. Keep the bias low to somewheres between 15 and 20 Mills, and from what I read, this is killer. So much for my commercial of the 12B4 preamplifier.

I'm asking because my hearing is going, and the idea of speaks and amplifier don't have the appeal they once had. Headphones are my last bastion. So I am beginning the journey of looking in to a headphone amp, as well as looking in to good cans. So I'd thought I'd start here in a couple of circles to see what can be done.

Ray Bronk

Ray Bronk

[Niteshade]

I built a headphone amplifier once about three years ago and it turned out VERY well. Nobody has asked me for one since. I'll have to look into what you're talking about. Believe it or not, a hybrid circuit may be the ticket for this.

[guest1632]

I built a headphone amplifier once about three years ago and it turned out VERY well. Nobody has asked me for one since. I'll have to look into what you're talking about. Believe it or not, a hybrid circuit may be the ticket for this.

Hmmm, possible, with the SS as the input as the buffer at unity gain, and then whatever tube you use for the output.

Ray

[6L6PPP]

I have owned virtually every type of headamp conceived and auditioned the ones I didnt own at headphone meets. Some are tube OTL, some are tube transformer coupled, some hybrid tube/ SS and some typical SS.

The 12B4/A is a nice tube and Mapletree Audio from Canada used this tube in a nice sounding single ended transfomer coupled headmp design. However, I like the 6CG7 and its direct sub the 6GU7= a 6.3 volt 12BH7; run single ended OTL better. I also like the 5687 better; excellent tube. The 6AS7/6080 x 2 used parallel single ended OTL with a strong input/ gain tube like the 12AV7/6414/7062 can be outworldly good and is probably my overall favorite. The EL84 run single ended and transformer coupled is very good. The 6V6 run push / pull triode makes a nice headamp.

The hybrid designs are quite good but to me dont reach the level of the all tube designs. I had at one time a couple Millet Starving student designs, several Millet Max versions, a Cavelli 12au7 hybrid design and a Stacker 2 high end amp with a tube rectified power supply and two sets of input tube sockets so I could run either Octal 6/12SN7s or 9 pin 6CG7/6GU7s or the 12 volt version of the 6CG7 the 12FQ7with a MOSFET output.

Here are some pics I never deleted from my headamp pic folder .... unfortunately I dont have a pic of my monster 6AS7/ 6080 headamp described above.

6GU7 X 3
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/001-1.jpg

Stacker 2 left/ 6V6 amp + headamp right
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/075.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/073.jpg

Millet Starving Student hybrid
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/037-1.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/051.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/052.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/053.jpg

Miscellaneous hybrids
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/054.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/055.jpg

My woodied/cable modded/ pad modded Alessandro MS-1s
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/040.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/042-1.jpg

[6L6PPP]

I would bet he is referring to a tube input/ gain stage with a SS output. But what you suggest is certainly possible.

Hmmm, possible, with the SS as the input as the buffer at unity gain, and then whatever tube you use for the output.

Ray

[guest1632]

I have owned virtually every type of headamp conceived and auditioned the ones I didnt own at headphone meets. Some are tube OTL, some are tube transformer coupled, some hybrid tube/ SS and some typical SS.

The 12B4/A is a nice tube and Mapletree Audio from Canada used this tube in a nice sounding single ended transfomer coupled headmp design. However, I like the 6CG7 and its direct sub the 6GU7= a 6.3 volt 12BH7; run single ended OTL better. I also like the 5687 better; excellent tube. The 6AS7/6080 x 2 used parallel single ended OTL with a strong input/ gain tube like the 12AV7/6414/7062 can be outworldly good and is probably my overall favorite. The EL84 run single ended and transformer coupled is very good. The 6V6 run push / pull triode makes a nice headamp.

The hybrid designs are quite good but to me dont reach the level of the all tube designs. I had at one time a couple Millet Starving student designs, several Millet Max versions, a Cavelli 12au7 hybrid design and a Stacker 2 high end amp with a tube rectified power supply and two sets of input tube sockets so I could run either Octal 6/12SN7s or 9 pin 6CG7/6GU7s or the 12 volt version of the 6CG7 the 12FQ7with a MOSFET output.

Here are some pics I never deleted from my headamp pic folder .... unfortunately I dont have a pic of my monster 6AS7/ 6080 headamp described above.

6GU7 X 3
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/001-1.jpg

Stacker 2 left/ 6V6 amp + headamp right
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/075.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/073.jpg

Millet Starving Student hybrid
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/037-1.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/051.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/052.jpg

Millet Max
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/053.jpg

Miscellaneous hybrids
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/054.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/055.jpg

My woodied/cable modded/ pad modded Alessandro MS-1s
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/040.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/042-1.jpg

Hi 6L6PPP,

I was suggesting the 12B4 tube idea because of its versatility as either a line stage or a small 1.5W power amplifier. I would think that would be enough for the most demanding phones. Supposedly, the 12B4 is a real killer of a preamp. Yeah, the 6CG7 and 6gu7 and I think the 6sq7? are supposed to be good subs, just don't have that screen to ground on pin 9. From reading about the 12BH7, somewheres, there is supposed to be QC problems with that tube. Can't remember where I saw that.

Anyway, it's just an idea. That 6CG7 or the 6N1p especially when biased correctly is supposed to be killer too. That comes from the guy who makes the Mirror preamps.

Ray Bronk

[Niteshade]

I would have the output be solid state and the input tube. Don't worry about sound quality- it would be VERY good.

[Freo-1]

I would have the output be solid state and the input tube. Don't worry about sound quality- it would be VERY good.

What input tube would you use?
 
For output device, Bi-Polar, JFET, MOS-FET, or SIT?

[Niteshade]

My favorite tubes are 6SN7's and 12AU7's- it would be one of them. The output device could be anything at this point. Not sure yet!

My major objectives at this time are the following:

Phono preamp, mic preamp, solid state & hybrid amplifiers.

[hibuckhobby]

Just a short note to say I'd love to see you put something together.
Bob